Alleged SC Church Shooter Facing Possible Death Penalty

September 4, 2015

(CHARLESTON, S.C.) — State prosecutors will be seeking the death penalty against the alleged South Carolina church shooter, they announced on Thursday.

In a court filing released on Thursday, state prosecutors indicated that they will be seeking the death penalty when Dylann Roof is tried in the killing of nine people at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston in June.

Cited in the filing as the rationale for seeking capital punishment was the fact that more than two people were killed and others’ lives were put at risk.

Solicitor Scarlett Wilson is scheduled to explain the state’s decision at a news conference Thursday afternoon.